Savings bank



Dec. 30, 1930. D. H. ZELL 978 8 1 I SAVINGS BANK Filed May 15, 1928CSSheets-Sheet 1 NH IHIWHHWHH I HH mmum avwawtoz I 3 I 7 Javz'd Dec. 30,1930. v V D. H. ZELL 1,786,811

SAVINGS BANK Filed May 15, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 l v K4j 3 X6) awuewtozJ5 rz d Z BZZ p 45 hank with the closure therefor qpen.

Patented Dec. 30, 1930 PATENT OF DAVID E. ZELL, OF.BROOKLYN, NEW YORKSAVINGS BANK Application filed May 15, 1928. Serial No. 277,978.

My invention relates to improvements in savingsbanks, especially of theportable type which can, if desired, be carried around in the ownerspocket, or laid in any convenient place at home, to be filled by puttinginto it such coins as the owner can spare from day to day; I

The object of the invention is to provide a portable savings bank ofspecial form and .10 attractiveappearance andof such construe ti-on thatit can be easily and inexpensively produced and kept securely closed andreadily opened when the contents are to be extracted. A further objectof the invention is to provide a portable savings bank comprisingacasing having a closure, and a fastening device for securing andreleasing the closure; the casingha-ving an opening throughwhich thecoins can be inserted and bearing on its interior means adjacent theopening for preventing the return of said coins through said opening, orfor removal from the bank in any other way than by means of thefastening device for releasing the cover so that the bank can be opened.

These and other objects of my invention are clearly set forth in thefollowing description,

taken with the drawings on which one embodiment of my invention isillustrated. The disclosure, however, is illustrative only and I mayvary the shape, size and arrangement of parts without exceeding thescope and principle of the invention; according to the broad meanings ofthe terms in which the appended claims are expressed.

On the drawings, Fig. 1 is aperspective view of apocket savings bankaccording to -my invention. 7

' Fig. 2 is a plan view of thecover for the casing of this bankdistended.

Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2. v i

Fig. 4 is a top plan of the casing of the r Fig. 5 is a section taken onthe line 55 of Fig. &.

Fig. 6 is a view of what is shown in Fig. 5 seen from the left.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 4 of the casing and closure with thecover attached.

7 Fig. 8 is an end view partly in section of the bank as shown in Fig.7, viewed from below upward in Fig. 7. I

Fig. 9 is a section taken on the line 9-9 of Fig. 7 and Fig. 10 is asection taken on the line 1010 of Fig. 7 I

On the drawings, the same numerals identify the same parts throughout.

I have shown my improved savings bank to herein as having a form of abook-with strongcovers and of such a size that it can be convenientlycarried in the 'owners pocket. However, I may make up the bank in formsresembling objects other than books, and the invention is by no meanslimited, so far as the appearance of the bank is concerned to the formof a. book, but may be embodied in objects of other form, if desired.

In the particular description of what the 7 drawings represent, I usenumeral (1) to indicate the body of the casing, having a hinged lid onclosure (2). Both the casing and the lid may be of metal and secured between a pair of covers (3). The bottom of the case (1) being afiixed toone cover and the lid (2) to the other; so that the bank can be openedin the same manner as a book by moving the covers (3) apart. The bankhas an opening (4) to receive a rotatable plug or cylinder which is partof a fastening device or lock to keep the lid shut. At one end theeasing (1) will have an elongated opening on slot (5) through whichcoins can be inserted into the bank. These coins can be removed byinserting a key into the lock and releasing the lid (2) so that theclosure (2) can be raised and the bank opened;

I shall now describe the construction of v the covers (3) andthemannerof securing I" these covers to the casing (1) and lid (2). The coversare made up of a pair of plates (6),

laced between sheets of fibre such as cardboard (7), with the adjacentedges of the plates separated as indicated in Figures 2 and 3. Theplates (6) are stamped to cut out lugs or tongues (8) which are bentupward and forced through one of the sheets (7) and the sheet throughwhich the lugs (8) pass may have transverse slots (9) therein inproximity to the adjacent edges of the plates (6). The same sheet mayhave notches 10) in its opposite edges in line with the slots (9) tomake it more pliable when the covers are folded together. The othersheet (7 is o erlaid with a sheet of material which makes the outersurface of the cover (3) and this material may be leather, or asubstitute for leather with any appropriate finish. It is folded alongall of its edges down upon the "face of the sheet (7) through which thelugs (8) extend and these edges may even be recessed or cut to fit thelugs (8); these edges being held in place by an adhesive or any othersuitable means. The corners of the covers (3) may have metallic guardsor reinforcements (11) hence I provide covers for the bank which arevery similar to two covers of a book; these covers being flexiblyconnected together by means of the layers of material between theadjacent edges of the enclosed metal plates (6).

To fasten the case (1) of the bank to one of the covers (3), I attach tothe cover shown to the right in Figs. 2 and 3, for example, a retainingmember consisting of a strip of metal 12) extending along top, bottomand free edge of this cover. The upper edge of this strip is turned overas indicated in v (13) forming a retaining rib or flange, and theopposite edge is turned over to provide a flange (14) having slots (15),so that the lugs (8) of this cover can pass through the flange (14:) andbe bent downward to secure the retaining member and the cover together.The casing (1) has the form of a more or less shallow box, which can heslipped under the flange (13) along the top and bottom edges of thiscover and its front side can be slipped under the flange (13) at thefront or free edge of the cover. Then the flanges (13) along the top,bottom and free edge of this cover are bent down over the adjacent topedges of the box or easing (2) and the latter is thus secured inposition. The lid (2) is hinged at (16) to the box (1) and a leaf spring(17) is secured within the box (1) in such a way that it normallypresses up against the lid (2) and tends to open the bank. The rear sideof the box to which the lid (2) is hinged is provided with two parallelcuts (18) and the metal between these cuts is pressed inward to form astrip (19) through which the lower end of the leaf spring (17) can beforced to hold this spring in place. The rim of the lid (2) is indicatedat (20) and the lugs (8) on the inner surface of the adjacent cover arebent over this rim; so that the cover and lid are made fast to eachother; hence, when the lid is closed and locked to the box (1),thecovers (3) move to closed position, the same as the covers of a book, aswill be clearly seen from inspection of Figures 1 and 8.

Along one side or end of easing (1), for example, the upper end shown inFigures 1 and 7, I secure a channel shape metallic strip (21) in whichthere is a longitudinal slot through which coins can be passed into thecasing (1). Between this strip and the adjacent end of box (1) are twocoil springs (22), the ends of which are hooked around projection struckfrom the strip beyond the opposite ends of the slot above mentioned. Theopenings left by these projections (23) are indicated in Figure 5 at(24). Both the adjacent end of the casing and the retaining strip (12)have slots therein coinciding with the slot in the strip (21) as clearlyindicated in Fig. 10 and the slots through the strip (12), the end ofthe box 1) and the strip (21) provide the coin inlet opening (5) abovementioned. The two springs (22) are arranged together as close aspossible and each projects beyond the adjacent edge of the opening (5)so that when a coin is inserted in the bank it must be pushed betweenthese two springs and spread them apart as it passes them. One edge ofthe strip (21) is bent towards the adjacent part of the rim of the box(1) as indicated at (25) and as secured under the adjacent flange (13).While these springs (22) permit the entrance of coins, they obstruct theexit.

Along the front of the box at the edge opposite to the edge where thelid (2) is hinged to the box, I attach an inside channel strip (26), theupper edge of which is bent upward to (27) and secured under the flange(13) along the adjacent portion of the retaining strip or member (12).This strip forms a guideway for a locking element or bolt (28), which islikewise channel shaped, having upper and lower flanges (29) extendingtoward the front of the box. The upper flange of the locking element iscut away to provide recesses (30) and the top flange of the strip (26)is likewise cut away to provide recesses or openings (31). At one end ofthe box a spring (32) covered by the strip (26) engages the lockingelement (28) and tends to move it in one direction, this s ring beingmounted upon a projection (33 cutfrom the locking member and bent intoposition. The opening (4) in the retaining member (12) adjacent themetal of the front of the box is placed in line with a similar openingthrough the front of the box and another opening through the strip (26)and in theseopenings are mounted a rotatable plug for a cylinder (34)which receives a key to retract the locking element (28). This lockingelement (28) has an elongated opening (35) through which the rotatableplug (34) passes and this plug is slotted as indicated at (36) toreceive the key which operates the lock. The slot (36) of the plug mustcome into line with the slot (37) in the member (12) and in front of thebox (1), and the locking element (28) has a projection (38) to beengaged by the bit of the key, so that when the key is turned, thelocking element (28) can be retracted. Along the freeedge of the closure(2) are hooks (39). When the lid is closed, the hooks pass through theopenings (31) in the strip (26) and engage the edges of the openings(30) through the top flange (29) of the locking strip (28) and when thekey turns the plug (34), the locking strip is forced back to withdrawthe edges of the recesses (30) out of engagement with the hooks (39)then the spring (17) can force the lid up.

The overturned flange (13-) of the member (12) atthe front of the casing(1) can be pinched as at (40) adjacent to the openings (31) in the strip(26) and the box can be cut so as to provide one or more guide loops(41) below the inched portions (40) to receive the hooks 39). Thus, thelid is prevented from working loose in closed or locked position. Thefront of the box may also have a projection (42) to engage the lowerflange (29) of the locking strip (28) and help to guide this strip.

The bottom of the casing (1) may have projections struck up from its topsurface as shown at (43 to abut the strips 21 and 26 to keep them rommoving away from the adjacent sides of the box along the lower edges. Aflexible strip (44) may be secured at its lower end between the bottomof the box (1) and the strip (21) and be held in an inclined position tocooperate with the springs (22) in preventing the removal of coins fromthe bank through the opening (5) and at (45) is a sight opening throughwhich the owner may peer into the bank for the purpose of ascertainingwhether it is full and ready to be emptied and the contents depositedelsewhere.

The bank is very handy to carry about for the purpose of saving coinsand loose change, for which the owner has no particular need; and whilethe bank admits coins at all times, the coins, as above pointed out,cannot be extracted through the inlet (5), because of the presence ofthe springs (22) and (44) and the only way to remove the coins is to usea key and retract the locking strip (28). Such banks can be given out bya banking corporation to its depositors, the key thereto being kept bythe officers of the banking corpora- .tion, so that any coins which theowner deposits in the pocket bank cannot be extracted and used but mustremain in the pocket until the owner takes it to the banking corporationand has it opened so that the amount saved can then be deposited to theowners credit.

The bank of course does not need tobe carried about, but can be laidanywhere, at home or in the owners office; and it can be made up insizes too large for ones pocket, as will be understood.

What I claim:

1. A coin bank comprising a casing, a closure hinged to one of themarginal walls of the casing, a housing within the casing'and engagedwith the opposite marginal wall thereof, lock mechanism for the closurewithin said housing, said housing having a flange extending upwardlyagainst the inner side of the marginal wall of the casing, and anornamental metal strip extending over the outer face of said casing walland having its upper edge bent inwardly and clinched upon said housingflange.

2. A coin bank comprising a casing, a closure hinged to one of themarginal walls of the casing, a housing within the casing and engagedwith the opposite marginal wall thereof, lock mechanism for the closurewithin saidhousing, said housing having a flange extending upwardlyagainst the inner side of the marginal wall of the casing, an ornamentalmetal strip extending over the outer face of said casing wall and havingits upper edge bent inwardly and clinched upon said housmg flange, andthe bottom wall of the casing having spaced upwardly struck portionscoactlng with the inner Wall of the housing to prevent displacement ofthe latter relative to the casing walls.

3. A coin bank comprising a casing having a closure hinged upon one ofthe marginal walls of the casing, a lock housing within the casingextending along the opposite margi nal walls thereof, a coin checkhousing extending along the inner side of another of the marginal wallsof the casing and with which one end of the lock housing is in abuttingcontact, and the bottom wall of the casing being provided withintegrally formed parts coacting with said housings to preventdisplacement thereof relative to the casing walls.

4. A coin bank comprising a casing having a hinged closure, a housingplate for the lock mechanism extending along the inner side of one ofthe marginal walls of the casing and having upper and lower flangesengaged with the inner face of said casing wall, and the bottom wall ofsaid casing being pro-- vided at longitudinally spaced points withupwardly indented portions having bearing contact against the inner sideface of the housing plate to prevent displacement of said plate relativeto the casing wall.

5. A coin bank comprising a casing having a hinged closure, achannel-shaped housing within the casing having its open side opposed toa marginal Wall of the casing, lock mechanism for the closure Withinsaid housing, means engaged over the upper ed e of the housing to holdthe upper edge ange thereof in contact with the inner face of the casingWall, and the bottom Wall of the easing having spaced upwardly indentedportions engaged with the side Wall of the housing to hold the loweredge flange of the housing in contact with the inner face of the casingWall.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signedmy name hereto.

DAVID H. ZELL.

